Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) issued a statement welcoming the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ravi Karunanayake following accusations over the alleged Central Bank treasury bond scandal.

The organization cited the resignation to be an “interim step to criminal justice outcome”.

Following this, TISL, in their statement, also remarked that all existing allegations over offences of bribery and corruption must be dealt with using the full strength of the anti-corruption framework.

They then reiterated the “need to remember the existence of a bribe giver and a bribe taker”. 

“Whilst the CoI (Commission of Inquiry) is empowered to provide recommendations to the President, TISL wishes to highlight the power vested in the Attorney General’s Department to institute actions based on evidence produced before the CoI, particularly the acceptance of a bribe, under the penal code”, the statement said.

Furthermore, the organization expressed their concern over the fact that “the only legal recourse to allegations of bribe giving is under the Bribery Act”.

Drawing the statement to a close, the TISL made a call to action to the Attorney General’s Department and the Commissioners of Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), and requested that they exercise their mandate and “restore public confidence in anti-corruption processes”.